License-number holder for automobiles.



E. H. MEYER.

LICENSE NUMBER HOLDER FOR-AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION man MAR. 31. 1917.

1,278,071. y Pat'lentedspt. 3,1918..

Wfnesses: Ee erick H. Mayer,

/zis V Homey.

FREDERICK H. MEYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LICENSE-NUMBER HOLDER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

Application led March 31, 1917. Serial No. 158,891.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. MEYER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident. of the cit)Y of Chicago, county of Cook, and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in License- Number Holders for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in license number holders for autolnobiles and has for its object the production of a device of this character which may be used as effectually at night as durin the day time. A further object is the pro uction of a device of this character which will be highlyv eiieient in use. hereinafter.

lVith these objects in view, the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be bestl understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which, j

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of one ofthe rear mud guards of an automobile to which is applied a license number holder embodying the invention, said holder being shown partly in section,

Fig. 2, a top plan view of the holder,

Fig. 3, a rear elevation of the same,

Fig. 4, an enlarged detail section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. the central portion of the construction shown in this figure being broken away, and Y Fig; 5, a detail section taken on line 5 of Fig. 3.

The preferred form of `construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a bracket 6 in the form of a single piece of strap iron which is bent into the form desired, the forward end of said bracket being curved and perforated for fastening by means nof screws '7 to one of the rear mud guards 8 of the automobile in connection with which the device is to be employed.

Secured by means of suitable fastening devices 9 to the rearward end of the bracket (3 is a sheet metal casing 10 of forwardly tapering form, the rearward or enlarged end of said casing being provided with a wall or door 11 hingedly secured to said casing at its lower edge as at 12. A spring clip 13 is provided at the upper free edge of said door 11 adapted for engagement with a Dro.-

Other objects will appeal' jeetion 14 on the top wall of the casing to releasably hold the door in closed or operative position.

Said door 11 is formed with a rectangular opening 15, and arranged at the rearward side of said door is a metallic plate 1G in which are formed openings 17 to constitute the license number of the automobile in connection with which the device is employed, as clearly seen in Fig. 3. At the rearward side of plate 16 is provided a transparency 18 of Celluloid or other suitable material which may be colored if desired. The transparency 18 is securely held in position upon the plate 16 by means of lugs 16 which are formed in the upper and lower edges of said plate and which are bent into engagement with the adjacent edge portions of the transparency asy seen in Figs. 3 and 5. Said plate and transparency are detachably secured to the door 11 by means of two bars 19 arranged at thev between said bars and the end portions of the wall 11 as will be readily understood. The arrangement is such as will be seen that the license number platev 1G may be readily and easily removed when desired to permit of insertion of another plate for different years whennew license numbers are assigned.

Arising from the bracket 6 adjacent the front end of casing 10 is a supplemental supporting member or bracket 22 having a channel formed base which embraces the adjacent portion of bracket 6, said base of member Q2 being detachably secured to bracket 6 by means of a screw '23 and cooperating nut Supported by the supplemental bracket 22 is an electric lamp socket 25 'the rearward end of the latter projecting loosely through a circular opening provided in the forward end of casing 1() into the interior of the latter for the support of electric lamp bulb '26 whereby the device may be illuminated. The detachable mounting ofthe supplemental bracket 2:2 renders assembling or disassembling of the device very easy. it being clear that in case removal of the electric lamp is desired, it is only necessary to detach the supplemental bracket, 22, and remove the bulb 26, in which event the socket 25 may be slid from engagement with the casing.

The arrangement is such ee will be Seen that the license number of the vehicle will be displayed (hiring: the doy, zuid nt night the electric lamp will ser 'e ne e menne or illnmiiiation for the license ninnber.

While here ill-nstrated and Vdeecribed the preferred torm of construction for ceri-jh ing my invention into effect), this capable of variation and niodiliczition without departing ,from 'the spirit of the invention. i, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details oitl construction setl forth, but desire to ereii myself of euch vnrietions end modifications ne come within 'the Scope of the appended claims.

Hering described my invention what it claim as new and desire to secure by .Letters Patent is:

l. A lioenee number holder for automobiles comprising a bracket; :i casing snpported by seid br: cket; u transparent wall at the rearward Side'of said casing; a enpporting member arising. from said bracket adjacent the front side of said cneingi; :1n electric lamp Socket supported by said member and projecting loosely through the front Wall of said casing into the interior thereof; and :1n electric lump bulb sup )orted b v the inner end ofsaid socket, substantially es described.

Q. A license number holder for y'automobiles comprising a bracket; n casing supported by seid bracket; a trnnsgerent Wall et the reni-nerd side ot' said casing; :t ,supporting member arising from :1nd detachebl)Y secured to seid bracket adjacentthe front side of seid casing; en electric lamp socket supported by seid member and projecting loosely throught-he front Well of sind casing into the interior thereof; und an electric lomp bulb Supported by the inner end of Seid socket. substau'itizilly :is described.

S3. A license number` holder for antonio bilee eomprieinp; e bracket; :1 casing supported by seid bracket; :i trzinspzirent wall :it the rearward side of Said casing; :t snpporting member arising from said bracket and fldjacent the front Side of said casing, seid supporting member haring n channel formed base embracing said bracket; means for detach-ably fastening said baise to Said bracket; an electric lamp socket Supported by .Quid member and projecting through the trontwull of seid casing into the interior thereof; and an elect-ric lamp bulb supported by the inner end of said socket7 substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed in v naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK H. ME YER. `Witnessesz JoSHUA R. Po'r'rsvz JOSEPH C. Lommer.;v 

